Car roof structure



Dec. 26, 1933.

-J. J. TATUM CAR ROOF STRUCTURE 9 Sheets-Sheet IX XXXX Filed Nov.

J. J. TATUM 1 Dec. 26, 1933.

Filed Nov. 30, 1951 WW u Dec. 26, 1933. .1. .1. TATUM CAR ROOF STRUCTURE 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 30

Dec. 26, 1933. J. .1. TATUM CAR ROOF STRUCTURE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 50. 1951 Dec. 26, 1933. J, J. TATUM CAR ROOF STRUCTURE 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 30

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Dec. 26, 1933. J. J. TATUM CAR ROOF STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 30, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 gwumdoo JZ/m J 75/81/27. vfgadzw Dec. 26, 1933. J. .1. TATUM CAR ROOF STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 50, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 g'wuwntw J/m J 75231011 I Dec. 26, 1933-. J. J. TATUM CAR ROOF STRUCTURE -Filed Nov. 30, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented ec. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES CAR ROOF STRUCTURE John J. Tatum, Baltimore, Md.

Application November 30, 1931 Serial No. 578,169

8 Claims.

This invention relates to railway cars, and particularly to car roofs.

One object of the invention is to provide a metallic roof for a car having a flashing along the top edge of the car made of suitable strength and so combined with the roof sheet and a side or eaves plate as to provide a secure joint between such parts at the eaves to prevent entrance of rain, snow and sleet and to better protect such parts from the weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flashing which is continuous with a side sheet, thusreducing the number of joints and the liability of leakage and entrance of moisture at the eaves.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination of a flashing and side plate with a metallic protector, which is suitably attached to prevent displacement in service, and 20 which covers and protects the roof flashing and side plate from injury and also covers the rivets or the assembling members used to fasten the side post of the car and the carlines of the car roof to the roof flashing side plate, so as to prevent entrance of moisture to the inside of the car through the holes of the rivets when loose or between the assembling members. This protector will insure a tight roof at these points, as well as longer life for the roof flashing side plate. The protector is also adapted so that it can be used on side plates of cars of various forms for the same purpose.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a roof with a flat surface formed longitudinal of the center, on which is to be suitably attached an anti-skid runway or floor, on which trainmen can safely walk. By thus forming a runway on the top of the roof sheet the necessity of using an elevated running board above the roof sheet as now commonly employed is avoided. This will also permit the building of a higher car within clearance limits of railroads on which it is to be used, as compared with existing constructions using an elevated running board, as well as an increase in the height of the car on the inside between the floor and the-underside of the roof carline, to the extent of the difierence in the height of running boards as now used on cars above the car roof and my new runway formed flat with the roof sheet.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a multiple fold roof carline which will insure greater strength of carline and will allow a shallower carline to be used without impairing the strength of the roof, and with the result of allowing a further increase of height of the car on the inside between the floor and the underside of the carline.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a metal protector of approximately the same form as the combination roof flashing or flashing and contiguous portion of the side plate, and arranged so that the roof sheet will turn down over the top edges of both the roof flashing and side plate and overlap the metallic protector, whereby a highly efiective form of connection and leak-proof joint is produced.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear in the course of the subjoined description, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:- 4

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one end portion of a car embodying my improved roof structure and showing the use of plain transverse roof sheets.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the roof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the roof.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the same.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sections on lines 5-5, 6-6 and 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified roof construction involving the use of plain longitudinal roof sheets.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation and Fig. 10 is a transverse section through the structure shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are sections on lines 11-11, 12-12 and 13-13 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 13 showing a modified form of seam.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figs. 1 and 8 showing a roof construction involv-- ing the use of longitudinal corrugated sheets.

Fig. 16 is a transverse section thereof.

Figs. 17 and 18 are sections on lines 17-17 and 18-18 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 15 showing a roof construction involving the use of transverse corrugated sheets.

Fig. 20' is a transverse section thereof.

Figs. 21 and 22 are sections on the lines 21-21 and 22-22 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the roof shown in Fig. 15 orFig. 19.

Figs. 24 to 29, inclusive, are transverse sections showing modifications in the construction I and 10 a lateral running board or platform.

As shown, the sheets 8 extend transversely of the roof over the carlines and their side edges overlap and are riveted or otherwise united to form flat lap seams 11, although, as hereinafter described, such edges of the sheets may be united by flat hooked seams. The sheets are also riveted or otherwise secured to the carlines and have their end edges 12 projecting beyond the ends of the upper surfaces of the carlines and overhanging the side or eaves plate 5 at each side of the ear. The side plate 5has a vertical lower portion 13 overlapping and secured to the side wall sheet 2, a horizontal portion 14 resting on the upper edge of the lining 3 and closing the space between the same and the sheet 2, and an upstanding portion 15 terminating in an outturned horizontal flange 16 overhanging the portion 14, said portion 15 and flange 16 being extended on a curved line or hook-shaped. The flashing 7 overlies the part it of the side plate and has a downturned flange 17 at its outer edge overlapping the part 13 of the side plate and suitably fastened thereto, and at its inner edge the flashing has an upstanding portion 18 and forwardly directed flange 19 corresponding to the portions 15 and 16 of the side plate and underlying the same. The edge 12 of the roof sheet 8 projects out over and beyond the free edges of the flanges l6 and 19 and is then bent backwardly in hook shape to form a return flange or portion 20 extending loosely under said flanges 16 and 19. By this means a weatherproof joint is formed between the edges of the roof sheets and the side or eaves plate which closes the joint between the upper edges of the parts of the side wall, and the flashing assists in closing the joint between the side plate and edge of the roof sheet and further forms a protector to shield the side plate from corrosion or other action of the elements.

The roof sheets 8 are so formed as to provide at the center of the roof a longitudinally and transversely flattened portion 21 of suitable width and forming a base support for the top or surface sheet or plate 22 of the running board, runway or platform 9 comprising the aforesaid elements 21 and 22. This runway sheet or plate 22 is preferably relatively thicker and heavier t the roof sheets, and is riveted or otherwise directly secured thereto, to provide a runway of a strong and durable sort, along which trainmen may walk from end to end of the car. This runway plate is provided with a suitably roughened surface 23 to afiord a firm bearing under foot and to prevent the feet of the trainmen from slipping thereon. The runway plate is provided withan extension 24 at each end of the car, which extension projects a suitable distance beyond the car end and is provided with integral brackets or neaavve platform which strengthens and is a component part of the roof itself and therefore lies within the plane of the roof, instead of being e independently of the roof and supported at an elevation above the roof in the customary manner. By thus making the runway platform a part of the roof itself the roof surface may be extended to a higher elevation and the storage compartment of the car correspondingly in.- creased in height, with an increase of storage capacity, as compared with cars of ordinary construction, without raising the height of the car beyond existing clearance limits, Each platform 10 consists of a top plate or sheet 26 secured to the roof sheets 8 at each end of the car between the longitudinal runway and one side of the car to provide a lateral runway or platform which is also a component part of the roof construction. This sheet 26 may also be provided with a suitably roughened surface 27.

In practice, the side wall sheets 2 may run either vertically or longitudinally and be riveted or otherwise suitably secured to each otherand to the side posts and side or eaves plates, without requiring any change in the roof structure to suit such variations in the side wall structure. The roof sheets may be rigidly attached to the carlines but are free from connection and loosely engaged at their end edges with the eaves plates to allow relative movements at such joints to prevent any strain on the roof sheets by reason of the weaving or twisting of the car. The carlines t are of multiple fold type, that is, multiple channeled type, such as of substantially W-..hape in cross-section, as shown in the present instance, this construction giving greatly increased strength to the carlines so that carlines of shallower formation or less depth than usual may be employed without sacrifice of roof strength, but with the efiect of further deepe the storage space of the car and increasing the storage capacity thereof.

In Figs. 8 to 14, inclusive, 1 have shown another form of my invention in which the construction is substantially the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, except that the roof sheets 13 extend longitudinally and are united by longitudinal flat lap seams 11, similar to the seams 11, although flat hooked seams, such as 11 shown in Fig. 1 1, may be used, and such se 11 may also be used in the construction in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. A further difference in the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 14, inclusive, as compared with Figs. 1 to 71, inclusive, consists in a slight change in the formation of the si'de'plate 5 and flashing 1 in that the upstanding portions 15' and 18' of the side plate and flashing are straight and vertical and their outwardly directed flanges 16' and 19' project horizontally at right angles therefrom. The outer edges 12 of the side sheets of the roof structure, however, are provided with hooked portions 20 similar to the portions 20 of the sheets 8 which underlap the outturned upper flanges of the side plate and flashing and have a loose connection there with, as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. The flashing 7 here protects the side plate against corrosion or other action of the elements and prevents leakage of water through crevices left by loose rivets developed by the rocking of the walls of the car while in service.

In Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, 1 have shown another form of my invention, which is essentially the same in principle as in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive,

' part thereof.

and Figs. 8 to 14, inclusive, with the exception that the roof sheets 8 which extend transversely and are provided with plain lapping edges are formed with longitudinally extending corrugations 28 at such edges, with the exception of the central portions of the roof sheets forming the base of the longitudinally extending runway and the portions of the side sheets forming the bases of the side platforms or runways, such construction giving increased strength to the roof as a whole withoutinterfering with the mounting of the platform or runway sheets in the manner previously described. The eaves plates, flashings and edges of the roof sheets engaging the same are of the form shown in Fig. 12, but may be of the construction shown in Fig. 5, if desired.

In Figs. 19 to 23, inclusive, another form of my invention is shown, which is the same as that disclosed in Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, except that the roof sheets 8 are provided with transverse corrugations 28 instead of longitudinal corrugations. The form and construction of the side plate, flashing and edges of the roof sheets engaging therewith is the same as that disclosed in Figs. 12 to 18, but may correspond to that shown in Fig. 5.

Figs. 24 to 29, inclusive, show other or alternative forms of construction of the eaves plates, flashings and roof sheet connections therewith which may be used. In Fig. 24 the eaves plate has its upstanding portion and flange integrally continuous and in the form of a flange member 15 extending outwardly and upwardly at an oblique angle to its part 14, and the upstanding part 18* of the flashing is correspondingly formed. In Fig. 25 the eaves plate has an upright portion 15 and a flange formed by an L- shaped member 16 attached'thereto, this construction except for the separate formation of the flange being the same as that shown in Fig. 12. In Fig. 26 the eaves plate has an upright portion 15 extending in advance of the carlines up to and forming a support for the roof sheet, and the flashing has an upright portion 19 lying parallel with the portion 15 and to which the straight downbent edge 20 of the roof sheet is riveted. In Figs. 2'? to 29, inclusive, an outside flashing or protector plate 29 is used in connection with an inside flashing '7 of substantially the form shown in Fig. 5, the flashing or plate 29 being similar in form and arrangement to the flashing 7 and forming therewith a double or twin flashing construction. The roof sheet here has a hooked edge 20 of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, which extends under the flanges of the flashings. In Fig. 27 the flashing '7 is formed as an integral upward continuation of the side wall sheet, while in Fig. 28 it is independent of the side wall sheet which overlaps the lower verticalpart of the eaves plate and terminates at its upper edge flush with the horizontal part of the eaves plate, and in Fig. 29 the structure is the same as in Fig. 28 except that the side wall sheet underlaps the lower vertical part of the eaves plate and terminates at its upper edge below the horizontal In Figs. 2'7, 28 and 29 the outer flashing or protector plate serves as a cover or guard for the inner flashing which is riveted to the horizontal part of the eaves plate and protects the inner flashing and eaves pla es from corrosion and other deleterious actions thereon by the elements and prevents ice, rain or snow from entering the joint or through the rivet holes in' case the rivets become broken or loosened.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that a roof structure for cars is provided which gives maximum protection against leakage of moisture into the car at the eaves and guarding of the joint surfaces at the eaves in an effective manner to prevent corrosion or other deleterious action of the elements thereon. Also it will be seen that the invention provides a roof structure of maximum strength and one which embodies a construction of runways and carlines which not only adapts the roof sheets to be more firmly and securely held but allows the depth of the storage space of the car to be increased without increasing the overall height of the roof, while at the same time furnishing a runway which gives greater safety against slipping than runways of ordinary construction.

It will, of course, be understood that while the constructions shown herein for purposes of exemplification are preferred, the invention is not limited thereto, and that changes in the form, proportion and. details of construction of the various parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. Further, the invention is adaptable to containers carried by cars, as well as the car themselves.

What I claim is:-

1. In a car roof, a roof covering extending from side to side of the car and formed of roof sheets having a transversely flattened portion at the center of the roof providing a longitudinal runway base, and a runway sheet directly overlying said base and secured to said sheets.

2. A car roof comprising a roof covering of sheet material extending continuously from side to side of the roof and having a transversely flattened central portion, and a transversely flat tread strip of sheet material laid directly upon and secured to said flattened portion of the roof covering and forming therewith base and surface layers of a running board lying substantially in the plane of the mid portion of the roof covering.

3. A car roof comprising a roof covering extending from side to side of the roof and comprising roof body sheets having longitudinally extending and transversely extending flat surfaces, and tread sheets laid directly upon and secured to said surfaces and forming therewith longitudinal and transverse runways. 130

4. A car roof embodying a roof covering of sheet material extending across the top of the car from side to side thereof and having a transversely flattened central portion, and an auxiliary roof sheet directly superposed upon said flattened portion of the roof sheet and forming therewith a running board structure lying substantially in the plane of the flattened part of the roof covering.

5. A car roof comprising a roof body consisting of metallic sheets formed to provide a flat central portion extending longitudinally of the roof centrally of its width, and flat portions at diagonally opposite corners of the roof extending transversely of the roof between the sides of the car and said central flattened portion of the roof, the flattened central and corner portions of the roof providing. longitudinal and transverse runway bases in the roof surface, and a covering of roughened sheet material laid directly upon and 150 in surface contact with each of said runway bases and forming therewith runway platforms lying substantially within the horizontal plane of adjacent portions of the root surface.

6. A car roof comprising a roof body consisting of metallic sheets formed to provide a fiat central portion extending longitudinally of the roof centrally of its width, and flat portions at diagonally opposite corners of the roof extending transversely of the roof between the sides of the car and said central flattened portion of the roof, the flattened central and corner portions of the roof providing longitudinal and transverse runway bases in the roof surface, and a covering of roughened sheet material laid directly upon and in surface contact with each of said runway bases and forming therewith runway platforms lying substantially within the horizontal plane of adjacent portions of the roof structure, the component parts oiithe roof body and covering forming the central longitudinal runway extending slightly beyond the ends of the roof.

- 7. In a car roof, a root covering formed of roof sheets and including a central portion and side portions, said central portion being continuous with said side portions longitudinally and transversely of the roof and flattened to form a runway base, and a tread sheet of roughened sheet material laid directly upon and secured to said base and forming therewith a runway platform.

8. In a car roof, a roof covering formed of roof sheets and including a portion continuous with said sheets flattened to form a runway lease, and a tread sheet of roughened sheet material laid directly upon and secured to said base and forming therewith a runway platform Joml J. TATUM.

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